The time after move-in or breaks can be challenging to enter or re-enter the busy schedules and demands of college. For some it might be a needed refresh from spending time at home, but for others it can lead to homesickness. Here are three ways to help minimize feelings of homesickness and isolation:
Get involved on campus
The best thing to do to overcome homesickness is getting involved. Push yourself to meet new people, make new friends, and try new things! Clubs are a great way to participate in things you enjoy while also gaining new experiences.
Decorate your room with things from home
Having things in your space to remind you of home that can make you feel more comfortable in your new environment.
Call friends and family from home
Occasionally check in with your loved ones. Remember that those from home are just a call away!
In most cases after the first couple days to weeks, feelings of homesickness tend to go away. Surrounding yourself with new friends while also intermittently catching up with loved ones is a great way to overcome homesickness.
Did you know that William & Mary is the number one public university for internships? There are so many opportunities for professional development within the university, but also outside and beyond your years in school.
Internships
Internships are great ways to obtain work experience while strengthening your resume and skills!Paid, unpaid, short, long, in-person, virtual, internships are extremely variable which makes it easy to find an opportunity that interests you. While internships can be either paid or unpaid, and some internships can even be used for academic credit!
Externships are a shorter opportunity that can help you get a bearing of how a professional organization operates. William & Mary offers opportunities for job shadowing 1-2 days in a variety of approved organizations. Some externships include opportunities in federal government, judicial, non-profit, public defender, private practice, and more organizations.
Funding for Unpaid and Underfunded Student Experiences, also known as F.U.S.E. patterns with donors to offer funding for unpaid and underfunded internships. All opportunities through F.U.S.E cover food, housing, and transportation for students working a certain number of hours depending on the semester. There are certain requirements needed for F.U.S.E, so if you’re interested, please check out the information below!
Research is for all majors at William & Mary. Reaching out to professors that are currently conducting research is a great way to begin gaining experience to add to your resume as an undergraduate.
If you’re currently a student at William & Mary, you’ve probably received an email from Tribe Careers before. Tribe Careers is a one stop shop for professional development opportunities. Find a career explorer, interest finder, add your resume, check out upcoming events, and apply for jobs!
The Cohen Career Center is home to career development and professional engagement. Find quick help with resumes, practice job interviews, and various events to help boost your career before graduation.
While this blog post doesn’t cover the vast number of opportunities that William & Mary has to offer, consider taking advantage of the many resources available!
Finals officially begin next week! While studying takes up a majority of students’ time in these next two weeks, it’s important to remind ourselves to stay well during this time of stress. Having a toolbox of resources to assist with physical, emotional, and academic and wellness during finals can be helpful! Here are a few things, both material and conceptual, to add to your DIY self care kit for finals week!
Reusable water bottle – keeping a water bottle with you while studying helps maintain hydration which increases energy levels!
Journal – keeping a journal, notebook, or even a sticky note to write down anything that comes to mind helps minimize distractions and express your feelings
A good playlist – for study breaks or even studying itself! Something enjoyable like music can put you in a good mood for the day!
Snacks – don’t forget to fuel for studying! Find some snacks from around campus that you can eat while studying!
Comfortable clothes – being comfortable while studying will further minimize distractions
Blanket – If your room gets cold, try having a blanket on hand
Free campus events – keep an eye out for free campus events that can act as a fun study break! You might even be able to score some free food!
Study timetable – knowing your schedule for the day/week will keep you on track by knowing what to do and when!
Essential oils – if you enjoy calming scents like lavender, try utilizing essential oils!
Coffee and tea station – the coffee and tea stations in Caf and Swem are great for a quick and easy study beverage
Set breaks – giving yourself time to do other things like hang out with friends, take a walk, sleep, read, etc. is one of the best ways to decompress
Romanticizing studying and having a variety of resources you can use during finals helps minimize distractions which will keep you energized and focused! Best of luck everyone!
One of William & Mary’s most beloved traditions is the Yule Log Celebration. The Yule Log Celebration is a long lived tradition for expressing gratitude for the past and present while also welcoming new beginnings going into the new year. It also stands as a way to bring the William & Mary community together to celebrate the joy of the season.
Occurring annually around the end of the fall semester, this celebration in the Wren Courtyard spreads holiday cheer with students, staff, faculty, and alumni across the world. With festive music, singing, poems, and stories, the William & Mary community celebrates the end of a semester and reflects upon the themes of peace, joy, and gratitude. The Yule Log is carried through the crowd into the Wren Building to be lit for a fire. Students have the opportunity to toss sprigs of holly into the Great Hall fireplace for good luck as well as decorate the trees around the Wren Building with messages of gratitude on paper doves to share appreciation for the past and present. After, cider and cookies are shared among participants.
Welcome to the tribe spring transfers! As you begin your journey at William & Mary, consider adding these to your college bucket list. I’ve compiled a list of academic and social ideas to create the ultimate bucket list for your first semester!
Join a club or organization of something you’re interested in
Explore all floors of Swem
Attend a lecture or workshop outside of your major
Pet a dog at the Williamsburg Farmers Market
Host a movie or game night to meet new people
Attend a formal dance or event
Volunteer for a local charity or community event
Start a study group with students in your class
Go kayaking on Lake Matoaka
Find your favorite pancake house
Attend an AMP Event
Write a letter to your future self to open on graduation day
Happy Thanksgiving break William & Mary! As we approach the end of the semester, finals week is closer than ever. Now is the time to begin preparations to set yourself up for success. Here are a few tips to acing your final exams!
Start Early
Don’t leave your studying for the night before. Avoid procrastination and cramming by beginning your preparations early!
Create a schedule
Making a schedule for what needs to be completed as well as what to study each day can help you keep track of your studying while avoiding burnout!
Prioritize Tasks
Try to identify the most important tasks and subjects to study based on due dates and your final exam schedule. Also focus on the areas where you need the most improvement or what holds the most weight on your exam.
Take Breaks
Don’t forget to take breaks every once in a while to maintain productivity. Taking breaks gives your brain time to absorb your studying and also decreases burnout when studying for long periods of time.
Maintain wellness and take care of yourself
Utilize campus resources like wellness center classes and make sure you’re taking care of your physical and mental health. Drink lots of water, get adequate sleep, practice mindfulness, and exercise daily to maintain a healthy mindset.
Ask for help
Exams can be academically and mentally stressful! There’s no shame in asking for help whether it be for academic or wellness purposes.
I think I’m speaking for everyone when I say that the week before Thanksgiving is one the hardest of the entire semester. The air is getting colder, the sun is setting sooner, and final exams begin peeking their heads around the corner. The final trek to break can feel endless, as most students try to cram in exam prep, essays, and final assignments.
But is this week of stress worth the almost-week-long break? For many students, Thanksgiving break translates to Thanksgiving “break from my dorm.” It’s common for students to use their time at home to continue studying for final exams and beginning their final projects. However, there is always time to close the textbook, and what better time than Thanksgiving break? Here are some ways to shake off those academic burdens during your time off.
1. Plan out your study schedule for the weeks following the break.
For me, I start to de-stress once I have a plan. If I know how I’m going to accomplish my end-of-semester goals, I’m more comfortable taking time for myself and fueling my body. And, it helps reassure me that I have enough time to get everything done!
2. Make a study playlist in preparation for finals season.
Music is a great way to spice up your studying. With a peppy playlist in hand, the motivation to study after the break is sure to pick up. Say goodbye to study dread during break!
3. Engage in some activities that take your mind off of your classes.
Wind down with a spa day, eat out with some friends, or start crafting for the holiday season. These are great ways to take your mind off school, while still fueling it for the weeks ahead.
It can be hard to completely step back from academics during such a busy time in the semester, but preparation and planning are on your side. Use these tools to ease your mind and make memories during your days away from due dates.
Emma Dunlop is a sophomore intending to major in Marketing here at William & Mary. A transfer student herself, Emma spent her first semester of college in London and arrived on campus in the Spring of 2023. In addition to starting as a STEP blog guest writer this semester, Emma is also a member of the William & Mary Accidentals, the Student Environmental Action Coalition, and Women in Business. She is so excited to get writing!
William & Mary is the second oldest university in the country, so campus has been witness to decades of academic success and historical significance. Over time William & Mary has gained specific
The natural beauty and historical charm of these four key spots help make William & Mary’s campus unique and special.
Wren Building
Starting off with arguably the defining building of William & Mary is the Wren building. Not only is it the oldest academic building in America still in use, it is also still home to some classes such as religion. It’s become a tradition that most W&M students try to take at least one class in the Wren building. It also serves as a symbol for the academic journey of students. Students begin their academic journey through the Wren Building during convocation and also conclude their W&M journey back at the Wren Building on their way to Commencement.
Crim Dell
Crim Dell is another key picture that you’ll see when looking up William & Mary’s campus. The beautiful bridge over a small pond is picturesque in all four seasons and is home to many species of wildlife! (You might spot a turtle when walking from Sadler to ISC!) There’s also a superstition that walking across the bridge with a loved one bonds the two together forever.
Sunken Garden
What makes our main garden so special is that it’s sunken! Sunken Garden is located in the center of campus and between two rows of academic buildings. The sunkenness creates a grass border perfect for relaxation or studying! It also serves as a place to hang out with friends and is usually the main location for special events like homecoming and formals!
Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre
At William & Mary we are blessed with the backdrop of Lake Matoaka on the outskirts of campus. The Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre frames the lake which makes it the ideal place to observe it or attend outdoor concerts! There’s also sometimes special events like sunset yoga that take place underneath the amphitheater stage itself.
There are a lot of words that William & Mary students use to describe GGV. Lack of air conditioning, communal bathrooms, and subpar just to name a few. Though its reputation precedes it, GGV is arguably the best place to build a community as a freshman. For me, no air conditioning on the third floor meant spending more time in the shared lounge, and many of my hallmates did the same as we formed quick and long-lasting relationships.
There were so many opportunities thrown at me the first few weeks of freshman year. The club fair with over 500 student organizations, all the tabling at Sadler, and the countless events we were dragged to by our OAs. But none of them impacted Lion K like IM softball. When sign-ups first rolled around in September, our group GroupMe was frenzied on the guys’ side and almost silent from the girls. There was no way my third floor girls hall was forming a softball team, but plenty of the guys downstairs had played baseball in the past or were looking for some way to occupy their Sunday nights. Whatever it was, the Zaddy Lions were born. Even though my floor wasn’t involved in this team in any way whatsoever, if we were anything as a group, we were enthusiastic. In the beginning of freshman year Lion K did everything together- meals, Target runs, birthday celebrations- there was no reason we wouldn’t cheer on our softball team as well.
On the night of the first game, as the actual team was in the lounge strategizing, the third floor was doing arts and crafts. Each of us carried a letter on a plain white sheet of paper, enough to spell out Lion K with a hand drawn lion in the middle. Nothing will ever compare to the reaction we got when we arrived at the IM field just as the first pitch was being thrown. The whole team loved the signs and it was so much more fun to watch than I expected. These people I’d known for less than a month had become my closest friends which meant we spent every waking moment together.
From that week forward, we showed up to every game, signs in tow, until they got too worn to carry. By the end of the season, each player had his own superlative, ranging from Girlboss Gari to Risky Robbie. These signs were made out of posterboard (and turned out to be a lot more durable). Each year since then, the Zaddy Lions have reunited over their love for softball, each coming from new friendships and organizations, but never forgetting the relationships made in GGV. Even the girls have made it to a few more games, proof that freshman dorm camaraderie is something that lives on forever.
Author bio: Hi everyone! My name is Ellie and I’m a junior here at W&M. I’m majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Hispanic Studies and hope to incorporate a bit of both into my future career. I’ve always enjoyed writing but have never been able to pursue it seriously, and I’m so happy to be able to write for the STEP Toward Success Blog as a guest writer!
This semester has gone so fast, and being close to halfway through my sophomore year makes me appreciate the past year while also being overwhelmed by the impending future. To think that in under 6 months the class of 2026 will have completed half of college is inconceivable. Being a spring transfer student, last spring was my first semester here, so I still feel relatively new to William & Mary. This semester I’ve prioritized new experiences and opportunities by taking advantage of the plentiful resources William & Mary has to offer. I’ve had the opportunity to explore my interests while also stepping out of my comfort zone through joining clubs, a research lab, and new jobs.
I sometimes compare myself to where I was a year ago, but with a year of new experiences, opportunities, jobs, and classes it’s important to recognize the growth and development in my interests and career readiness. Consciously pursuing things that will make me step out of my comfort zone has helped me discover the joy in first experiences.
This semester I’ve had the privilege of joining a research lab group which has not only helped me expand my knowledge of animal behavior and biological conservation, but also the importance of networking and professional development. Our most recent lab meeting focused around a discussion of grad school. From hearing the stories of grad students, I found this discussion to have sparked curiosity and questioning of my own future. It also sparked the question, What does it mean to be a sophomore? Not exactly a new student, but close enough to be considering life beyond graduation. Questions of grad school, gap years, and future careers. How to prepare for life beyond graduation while balancing all realms of being a current college student. In my eyes, being a sophomore is recognizing that now is the time to not just think about the future, but to set yourself up for future success.
My best advice for sophomores from being one myself is to make the most out of your time here at William & Mary. Continue pursuing the things you enjoy while also stepping out of your comfort zone to consider new perspectives. Now is the time to try something new, explore your interests, make connections, and learn more about yourself, others, and the world around you.
